Title
Sea Level Rise Response Planning Update
Recommended Action
Briefing only. No action required.
Report
Issue:
Receive briefing on sea level rise planning work initiated by the City of Olympia (City), the Port of Olympia (Port) and LOTT Clean Water Alliance (LOTT).
Staff Contact:
Eric Christensen, Water Resources Engineering and Planning Manager, 360.570.3741
Presenter(s):
Eric Christensen, Andy Haub
Background and Analysis:
The City, the Port and LOTT have entered into an Interlocal Agreement to jointly fund and participate in a formal sea level rise planning process for downtown Olympia and the Port peninsula. A consulting firm, AECOM Technical Services, has been hired to help lead the planning effort. The City, Port and LOTT share common concerns regarding sea level rise, yet also have unique individual vulnerabilities.
The tasks to be completed by AECOM and the City, Port and LOTT for this project include:
1. Evaluate the best available science
2. Develop a sea level rise planning framework
3. Conduct a vulnerability and risk assessment of downtown assets
4. Develop three or four sea level rise adaptation strategies
5. Complete a Sea Level Response Plan
The first three steps in the planning process are now complete and the task work products, including the recently finalized vulnerability and risk assessment, are available for community review on the sea level rise webpage. We have started on the fourth task, adaptation strategies, and will be working on it throughout the summer.
In early May, AECOM will provide the team with a menu of conceptual physical adaptation strategies (flood barriers). On May 4, we will conduct a workshop with the internal team to review and evaluate AECOM’s conceptual strategies. Because timing for implementation of the strategies will be based on flooding risks, efforts will be focused initially on the shorelines of Capitol Lake, and West Bay (Percival Landing), followed by the Port. The LOTT wastewater treatment plant and combined sewer system will be protected by the shoreline barriers.
In June and July, the primary focus will be on targeted outreach activities. The team is developing tools to depict the depth, duration and frequency of flooding events associated with various sea level rise scenarios. The team will share these tools, along with conceptual physical adaptation strategies with downtown property owners and stakeholders. Discussions regarding strategies for Heritage Park will take place with the Department of Enterprise Services. Discussions regarding strategies for Percival Landing will take place with the Department of Natural Resources. The conceptual strategies will also be shared with the City’s executive team, the Utility Advisory Committee (UAC) and the Land Use and Environment Committee.
In August and September, physical strategies will be further developed and efforts will shift to developing governance and funding strategies. A community “sea level rise walking tour” event(s) is planned for September. It will be timed to occur approximately a week before a community workshop at which adaptation strategies will presented. Adaptation strategies will be presented to the UAC in September and made available for review by the public via our sea level rise website prior to the workshop.
The ultimate goal is to develop a plan that lays out a framework with the necessary incremental steps for sustaining a long-term community-wide sea level rise program. The current schedule anticipates the plan will be formally adopted by City Council, the LOTT Clean Water Alliance Board and the Port of Olympia Commission in December and/or January.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Various community groups and other agencies are engaged in climate change and sea level rise issues. The City of Olympia Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Strategy support developing a sea level response plan. Citizens voiced their support for the sea level response planning process at a February 8, 2017 vulnerability and risk assessment community workshop and at June 27, 2017 sea level rise planning process community informational meeting. Coordination with regional climate change mitigation planning is occurring.
Financial Impact:
None at this time. However, potential long-term private and public impacts are appreciable.
Attachments:
Olympia Sea Level Rise Adaptation Strategies Workplan